Boone County to receive state poll funding

COLUMBIA — Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren received notice last week that the county will be receiving $192,346 in grant money. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan made the official announcement today.

The funding for the grant comes from the Help America Vote Act as well as resources from the state Election Administration Improvement Fund. The county was notified of its eligibility during the Annual Clerks Conference.

“It was really just a matter of filling out the documents,” Noren said.

According to Noren, without the grant money, Boone County would have had to close 40 percent of polling places for the November election.

“This grant is basically helping the county get through the budget crunch and revenue decrease across the county,” Noren said. “As much as $67,000 will go toward maintaining voting equipment.”

The rest of the money will be allocated for training poll workers and up-to-date technology. Because the money is provided through the state and federal government, it can only be used for the August and November elections, and not for other programs or local elections.

Noren currently expects to have 85 polling places around the county for the November election.